Valve mechanism



July 8, 1941. H. D. LATHROP Y VALVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l F'iled- March 25, 1940 Fig. I

INVENTOR= HHRRY l2 LGTHROP July i941.

Fug. 2

H. D. LATHROP VALVE MECHANISM Filed March 25, 194 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTORI HARRY D. LeTHRoP Patented July 8, 1941 iv fiI fi i Harry ).Iathrop, Chicago,',Ill., assignor to'The Lathrop-Paulson Company, Chicago, Ill., a'cor v poration'of Illinois 1 i a marchza1940,'seriali roiszsjss" Q claims. (01. 137 21) This invention relates to valve mechanism. The valve mechanism is particularlyiuseful in connection with, aiweigh .can and thelikeh An object of the invention is to provide agsimple and effective valve mechanism which :will cause the valve to remain in openeposition during the flowing of liquid' from a container but which will automatically close the valve after the liquid has left the container.; Apfurther object is to provide valve mechanism which ,has a minimum of parts and which presents a minimum of of projections into the interior of the container outlet during the outflow of liquid, Other specific objects and advantageswill' appear asjthe specification proceeds. V 1

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a broken vertical sectional View of apparatus embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a transverse sectional View, the view being taken above the valve seat.

The .present invention constitutes an improvement upon my Patent No. 2,100,142, which issued on November 23, 1937. This patent shows a container or weigh can equipped with an outlet fitting, the top of the outlet providing a seat for the valve. A valve stem guides the valve to and from its seat. A number of parts are employed for maintaining the valve in elevated position a when it is raised to permit the outflow of liquid while automatically permitting the valve to move downwardly to its seat after the flow of liquid is completed. The present invention provides a structure in which the several parts of the patented structure are reduced to approximately one part and in which the main operating part is concealed or housed within a slot in the stem of the valve. In the present invention, the stem instead of being elevated with the valve is stationary and the locking mechanism is housed within a slot in the stem itself.

In the illustration given, l0 designates a contamer outlet, the remaining part of the container not being shown. Any type of container, whether a weigh can, as shown in my said Patent No. 2,100,142, or any other type of container, may be employed. The outlet I0 is provided at its top inner portion with a cone valve seat A central hub I2 is supported in the lower central portion of the outlet ID by three spider arms I3. The hub is centrally apertured to receive a reduced end l4 of the stem or shaft I5.

The shaft I5 is provided with a slot l6, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1.

The valve may be of any suitable type orconstruction. In the illustration given, -aqvalve I1 is equipped with a-tubular'sleeve 18 receiving and being guided 1 by the shaftl5. *Any suitable means, not shown, for elevating the valve or valve sleeve l8 may be employed. a i- I -The improved meansfor supporting'the valve I! in elevated position'iwill now be described '-A cup |9- provided with a perforation or perforations 29 is supported inthe path of the outflowing'liquid by means of a*lever 2|.-1 The lever 2| is provided with a horizontal arm portion 22 equipped on its underside with a socket 23 supported upon a ball portion 2d of theshaft I5. The upper portion of the lever 2| extends substantially-at right angles to the horizontal portion 22; and is provided at-its top with an inclined face 25 adapted to engage the inner corner portion 26 of valve H. The inclined face 25 is slightly indented centrally at the point indicated by the numeral 21 and substantially opposite the rounded corner portion 26 of the valve.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the valve I1 is elevated by means of the tubular stem l8 to a position such as illustrated in Fig. 1. The outflowing liquid engages the cup l9 and the weight thereof tilts the Vertical shaft 2| to the .position illustrated in which the indented face 21 of the lever 2| engages the corner portion 26 of valve II. The valve I! is thus locked in elevated position during the outflow of milk or other liquid. After the liquid has passed from the container or weigh can, it discharges through the openings 20 of the cup |9 so that, within a very short time after the outflow of the milk, the cup I9 is empty. The weight of the liquid therefore serves no longer to counterbalance the shaft 2| and under the weight of the valve H, the shaft 2| is swung inwardly within the slot l6 of shaft I5. Immediately, the valve descends, being guided into position with the valve seat H by the engagement of shaft l5 with the tubular stem l8. When the valve is again raised, the operation will be as above described.

It will be noted that the tube l8 serves as a housing for maintaining the lever 2| within the slot of shaft l5 when the valve is in lowered position. A single lever serves as the means for support of the cup l9 and as the locking means. It is maintained out of the way of the flowing liquid, being housed within the shaft itself. The apparatus is more effective and sure in operation and much simpler in construction while at the guide shaft supported therein, a valve equipped with a tube engaging said guide shaft, said guide V shaft being centrally slotted, and a latch lever received within said slot and pivotally supported therein at its bottom, the top portion of said lever being provided with an inclined face adapted to engage said valve when in elevated position :to lock the same in said position, a horizontal arm carried by said latch lever, and a erforated cup carried by said horizontal arm, said cup, when empty, permitting said inclined face of the latch bar to yield under the weight of said valve to permit the same to descend.

2. In combination with a container outlet, a shaft supported therein, a valve equipped with a tubular sleeve engaging said shaft and guided thereby in alignment with said outlet, said shaft being slotted and providing a fulcrum in the lower portion of the slot, a latch bar equipped with a socket at its lower point receiving said fulcrum and at its upper end. with an inclined face adapted to engage said valve to support the same in raised position, said bar being provided with a horizontal arm, and a perforated cup carried by said horizontal arm adapted to swing said inclined face into locking engagement with said valve when said perforated cup is filled but to release the same when said cup is empty.

3. In combination with a container outlet equipped with arms supporting a central collar, a shaft supported within said collar and provided with a vertical slot, a valve equipped with a sleeve receiving said shaft, a bell crank lever pivotally supported within said slot and having a horizontal arm portion extending laterally from said shaft, and a perforated cup carried by said horizontal arm portion, the lever having a vertical arm lying partly in the slot, the upper end of said arm being provided with an indentation adapted to receive the inner corner portion of said valve for supporting the same when said valve is in elevated position and liquid is flowing through the outlet into the cup, the angle of the bottom of the indentation being such as to permit the weight of the valve to force the vertical arm into the slot so that the valve will automatically fall when the flow through the outlet ceases and the cup empties.

4. In combination, a container outlet with a valve seat therein, a stem supported by said outlet and in axial alignment therewith, a valve movable to close said valve seat and having a sleeve slidable over the stem, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the stem and having vertical and horizontal arms, and a member carried by the horizontal arm and lying in the path of liquid passing through the outlet to hold the lever depressed so long as liquid flows through the outlet, the upper end of the vertical am having engagement with the valve to maintain the valve in raised position so long as the lever is depressed.

HARRY D. LATHROP. 

